Device for rapidly making crosssections of fibers



'July 21,1936.;` J, l, HARDY 2,048,335

DEVICE FOR RAPIDLY MAKING CROSS SECTIONS 0F FIBERS Filed June '1,` 1955 Y 'INVENTDR I LHARDY BY ATTDRNEYS Patented July 21, 1936 yllJNi'rlazp STATES PATIENT orrics (Granted `under the act of March 3. 1883, al

- amended April '30, 1928: 370 0. G. 757) 'Ihis application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of -April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described, it patented. may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment i to me of any royalty thereon.

My invention relates to a device having a ber slot for use in rapidly making cross-sections of wool and other bers, and having a means for propelling bers through the ber slot. The only rapid methodfor making thin cross-sections of bers is that described byv me in Patent No. 2,011,444, August` 13, 1935. application Serial No. 17,834,`1ed April 23, 1935, in which Athe bers are held in a ber slot in a threaded rod. The object of my present device is to obtain rapidly good thin cross-sections of a large number of bers. an advantage over the existing rapid method for making thin cross-sections oi' individual bers.

I attain these objects by use of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top/plan view of the entire device; Figure 2 is a side view of the entire device; Figure 3 isa detailed view of the mechanism for propelling bers through the ber slot.

'I'he device involves the use of a metal plate I. called'the ber holder. There is a ber slot 2 in plate I, extending a predetermined distance towards the center of the ber holder. The second plate 3, called the slide holder plate, which may or may not be the same size as the rstA mentioned plate, also contains a slot l in which is rigidly aixed a at surfaced metal slide 5, with a right angled ange 6, said slide extending sumclently beyond the slide holder plate 3 to li partially the above mentioned slot 2 in plate I.

y The metal slide consists of a thin metal plate so formed as to have a ange 6 extending at a right angle to the -plate in such a manner thatl when the portion oi the slide 5 which projects from plate 3 is inserted in slot2 of plate I. the aforementioned ange will be positioned on one side of plates I and 3 and the metal slide will partially ll slot 2. The portion of the slide l which enters slot 2, is of the same width as the thickness of plates I and 3, so that the plate I and the edge of slide 5 are in alignment when the slide is placed in slot 2 whereby a smooth surface is provided adjacent the ber slot.` Two metal U-shaped guides I are positioned on each side of metal plate 3 adjoining plate -I to hold plate I and plate I in the same plane when the metal slide I is inserted in the ber slot 2.` Ai'- xed tothe ber holder I is a metal`swivel 8 attached to approximately the central point on the upper surface of the ber holder I by a screw 9. One-end of the swivel has an overhanging arm Il. Passing through the overhanging arm 5 I 0 is propelling screw Il. The under arm I2 of the swivel, extending under the upper arm has a slot I3 which is in perfect alignment with the base end of the ber slot 2 when the set screw` I4 is screwed into the countersunk hole Il in 10 alignment with the ber slot 2 of the ber holder.

' There is positioned in the slot I3 of the undermetal plunger is affixed a metal disc Ii with a 15' countersunk hole at its center point. Above this countersirnkhole is thepropelling screw II for moving the metal plunger I! through the ber slot 2. Under the metal disc I6 and around the metal plunger I5 is a coil spring i'l which raises 20 the plunger ,I i when the propelling screw II is raised. The movement of propellingr screw Il may be measured by graduating the head of the screw I I as shown at 20 in Figure 1 and providing the upright index arm II attached to the upper 5l arm of the swivel.

Ifo operate the device. the metal swivel 8 is swung to one side after releasing set screwl Il; then small groups of bers are inserted into the ber slot 2 until itis lled to a greater depth 30 than the depthof the under arm slot I3, when the bers are slightly compressed. Slide I is then inserted in slot 2 until the bers are rmly held in the ber slot. By means of a safety razor blade the bers are cut oi ush on both sides of the ber holder plate. Should the bers appear compacted too closely, this condition may be overcome by pulling out slide I a short distance.

The swivel I is'swung back into position un- 40 til set screw Il ts thei'oountersunk hole I1 in the ber holder I. The propelling screw ii is turned to advance the bers slightly through the ber slot 2. The ends of the bers projecting through the ber slot are cut off. 'Ihe 5 propelling screw II is again advanced slightly andthe ends of the Abers are covered with a thin smear of cellulose acetate solution which is allowed to dry to a thin lm over and around the ends of the bers. This lm containing the ends of the bers is cut free from the ber holder with a sharp safety razor blade. The lm is then transferred to a glass slide. mounted in some suitable mounting medium and covered with a cover slip. The cross-section of -iibers is then ready for examination.

'lhis device may be used to assist in the determination ot fiber nneness. as well as in obtaining extremely thin cross-sections of bers of a determined thickness. v

Having hilly disclosed my invention I claim: 1,. A device for making cross-sections ot fibers. comprising a plate. a ilber slot extending inwardly from an edge of the plate, a metal slide' adapted to enter and fill the fiber slotv except -for a space at the base of'sald slot. a slide holder plate attached to one end of theslide, means to hold said two plates in alignment with each other when the slide is inserted in the nber slot, a swivel having an overhanaina arm and an under arm in alignment with each other.

yat one end thereof, said under arm having a slot in its free end, so mounted on the ilrst mentioned plate vthat the slot in the under arm otthe swivel "may be brought into alignment with said space.v at the base of the ber slot. means rigidly' to' hold said slots in alignment, a

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plunger having a plunger plateat the lower end thereof adapted to enter the slot in. the swivel and the base ot the liber slot, a propelling screw threaded through the overhanglng arm to contact with the top ot the plunger, tension means attached to the plunger between the arms of swivel to raise the plunger as' the screw is raised and means-to measure the movement ot the propelling screw through the overhanging arm.

2.'A device for use in making crosssections of fibers. comprising a plate. a. fiber slot extending from an edge ot the plate, slide means in the slot to partially close the slot whereby a portion o! the slot may be left clear at the base thereof, an adjustable plunger plate adapted to enter the liber siot at the base thereof, adjustable means attached to the first mentioned plate to suspend the plunger plata over the nrstmentioned plate in alignment with the base of the fiber slot and- 20 means measurablwto' control the movement of the plunger plate in the aber slot.

s JOHN I. HARDY. 

